Wire-unwinding device



United States Patent 2 O 3,112,899 WIRE-UNWINDING DEVICE Hugh W. Hosbein, Fort Wayne, Ind, assignor tohlssex Wire Corporation, Fort Wayne, Ind, a corporation of Michigan Filed July 21, 1961, Ser. No. 125,742 4 Claims. (@l. 242128) This invention relates to the unwinding of wire from a stationary spool, and more particularly to an improved apparatus for unwinding wire from a stationary spool where the wire is withdrawn over one head of the spool.

In the winding of electrical coils with insulated magnet wire by means of automatic or semiautomatic coil-winding machines, the rnagnet wire its withdrawn at high speed from spools upon which the wire is wound. In such winding operations, the spool is commonly set upon one head and the wire is withdrawn over the other head in the direction of the axis of the spool. When the wire is thus axially drawn at a high speed from a stationary spool, the wire at times uncoils too tast from the spool and loops upon itself to form knots and tangles.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a device which will permit wire to be withdrawn over the head of a stationary spool at a high speed without danger of such wire looping itself and causing knots and tangles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved wire-unwinding device which is simple, inexpensive and adjustable for ready adaptation to various sizes of wires and spools.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a device for unwinding wire from a stationary spool, in which the wire drawn from the spool passes between a spool cap resting on one spool head and a cone of rubberlike material which is urged against the spool by a weight attached to the cone. The cone is supported by a vertically adjustable wire guide to permit adjustment of the wire tension to a desired degree.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional View of a wire-unwinding device shown with a spool of wire in place; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded View of elements of the wireunwinding device.

Referring now to the drawing, the wire-unwinding device has a generally horizontal base it) with an upstanding stud 11 which positions a spool 12 nonrotatively sup ported on the base til. The spool 12 is of conventional construction comprising the center cylindrical core 13 having a cylindrical passage 14- extending therethrough and the spaced heads or flanges 15 and 16. The spool 12 is positioned with its lower head 15 on the base it} so that stud it enters one end of passage l t. The wire 17 is spirally wound in layers on the core 13 between the heads 15 and 16.

A. spool cap 18 is supported on the upper head 16 and comprises a circular disc 19 with a downwardlydirected circumferential rim 20 which overhangs and surrounds the head 16. The cap 18 has a smooth outer arcuate or rounded peripheral guide surface 2]; of a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the head 16. The cap 18 is formed of metal or the like of suitable weight so that it is held in frictional engagement with the head 16 and remains stationary in operation of the unwinding device.

A11 upright post 22 is secured to the base it} adjacent one edge thereof. A slide 23 is slidably mounted on the post 22 and is provided with a set screw 24 for holding ice it in selected positions of elevation. The slide 23 has an outwardly projecting lower arm 25 through which passes the externally threaded neck portion 26 of a funnelshaped wire guide 27. The guide 27 is adjustably held in a sleected vertical position by an adjustment securing nut 28 which is threaded over neck portion 26. The guide 27 is provided with an aperture having a smooth inner surface and is preferably fabricated of low-friction material such as nylon.

A hollow, flexible cone 29 of elastic material such as rubber is secured'at its upper open end or apex upon the outer conical surface 30 of the guide 27 by a clamping band 31. The lower end 32 of the cone 29 is secured by adhesive or other suitable connection to a ring 33 formed of metal or the like of suitable weight which pulls the end 32 of cone 29 downwardly. The diameter of the lower end 32 of the cone 29 is greater than the maximum diameter of the surface 21 of the spool cap 18 so that the cone 29 may be positioned over the spool cap 18.

For directing the wire 17 in a desired direction from the guide 27, the end of a flexible tube 34 may pass through the upper arm 35 of slide 23. The end of flexible tube 34- may be suitably threaded and secured to the arm 35 by two nuts 36.

In use of the wire-unwinding device, a spool 12 of wire is placed upon the base 10 and the cap 18 is placed upon the upper head 16 of the spool 12. The end of wire 17 is drawn through the cone 29 and the wire guide 27 into the tube 34. The cone 29 is placed over :the spool cap 18 as shown in FIG. 1 to be resiliently held against the surface 21 through the action of gravity by the weight of ring 33. The spool 12, the cap 18 and the cone 29 remain stationary as the wire 17 is withdrawn over cap 13 to guide 27 and tube 34-, the wire 17 will travel around the surface 21 of the cap 18. The cone 29 presses the wire 17 against the cap 18 so that it is ttensioned to a desired degree which prevents the wire from looping upon itself and becoming entangled or knotted. The tensioning of wire I17 may be readily adjusted to a fine degree during withdrawal of the wire by turning the adjusting nut 28.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in a single preferred embodiment :and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described, since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A wire unwinding device for use in Withdrawing wire at a high speed over one head of a stationary spool having a core upon which said wire is wound, comprising: means for nonrotatively supporting said spool with said core in a vertical position; a cap adapted to fit on said head and having a circular and rounded guide surface adapted to extend about the peripheral edge of said head; a hollow, flexible cone of rubberlike elastic material provided with an opening at its apex and having its larger open end in overlying relation to said cap; a circular weight attached to said larger open end of the cone and urging the inner surface of said cone through the action of gravity against said guide surface of the cap; a wire-guiding element secured in said opening at the apex of'the cone to accommodate the wire as it is drawn through said apex after passing between said cone and said cap; and means adjustably supporting said guiding element and said cone in axial alignment with said core whereby the force with which said cone presses said wire against said cap may be adjusted.

2. A wire-unwindin g device for use in withdrawing wire at a high speed over one head of a stationary spool having a core upon which said wire is wound, comprising: a horizontal base for nonrotatively supporting said spool with said core in a vertical position; a cap adapted to fit on said head and having a circular and rounded guide surface adapted to extend about the peripheral edge of said head; a vertical post on said base; a movable member slidably mounted on said post; means for securing said movable member to said post in different positions; a guide element supported on said movable member above said cap and provided with a wire-guiding aperture therethrough; the axis of said aperture being aligned With the axis of said core; a hollow, flexible cone of rubberlike elastic material provided with an opening at its apex; said cone 'being secured adjacent said apex to said guide element with the larger open end of said cone in overlying relation to said cap and in axial alignment with said core; a circular ring attached to said larger end of the cone and urging the inner surface of said cone through the action of gravity into coaxial engagement with said guide surface of the cap; said Wire passing between said guide surface of the cap and said cone to said guide element; and said guide element being adjustably connected to said movable member to adjust the relative axial positions of said cap and said cone whereby the force With which said cone presses said Wire against said cap may be adjusted.

3. A Wire-unwinding device according to claim 2 including means on said base for positioning said core in axial aiignment with said guide element.

4. A Wire-unwinding device according to claim 2 including a Wire-guiding tube mounted on said movable member with its end in axial alignment with said guide element.

Refierenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,242,053 Chapman Nay 13, 1941 2,629,566 King Feb. 24, 1953 2,930,541 Crum Mar. 29, 1960 

1. A WIRE-UNWINDING DEVICE FOR USE IN WITHDRAWING WIRE AT A HIGH SPEED OVER ONE HEAD OF A STATIONARY SPOOL HAVING A CORE UPON WHICH SAID WIRE IS WOUND, COMPRISING: MEANS FOR NONROTATIVELY SUPPORTING SAID SPOOL WITH SAID CORE IN A VERTICAL POSITION; A CAP ADAPTED TO FIT ON SAID HEAD AND HAVING A CIRCULAR AND ROUNDED GUIDE SURFACE ADAPTED TO EXTEND ABOUT THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID HEAD; A HOLLOW, FLEXIBLE CONE OF RUBBERLIKE ELASTIC MATERIAL PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING AT ITS APEX AND HAVING ITS LARGER OPEN END IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID CAP; A CIRCULAR WEIGHT ATTACHED TO SAID LARGER OPEN END OF THE CONE AND URGING THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CONE THROUGH THE ACTION OF GRAVITY AGAINST SAID GUIDE SURFACE OF THE CAP; A WIRE-GUIDING ELEMENT SECURED IN SAID OPENING AT THE APEX OF THE CONE TO ACCOMMODATE THE WIRE AS IT IS DRAWN THROUGH SAID APEX AFTER PASSING BETWEEN SAID CONE AND SAID CAP; AND MEANS ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTING SAID GUIDING ELEMENT AND SAID CONE IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CORE WHEREBY THE FORCE WITH WHICH SAID CONE PRESSES SAID WIRE AGAINST SAID CAP MAY BE ADJUSTED. 